Spar mill



C. H. SAWYERf SPAR MlLL.-

APPLICATION FILED um. 22. 1920.

Patented Apr. 25, 1922.

2 SHtETS-SHEEI C. H. SAWYER.

SPAR MILL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22, I920. I 1,414,306. Patented Apr. 25, 1922.

2 suzns-sus'n 2.

UNETED .TATES P T V CLINTON H. SAW YER, 'OF YORKgN; Y;

SPAR MILn.

Specificationcf Letters Patent.

Patented 25,

" M Application filed January 22, 1920; serial No. 353,357;

To all whom it may concern.

Beit known that I, CLINTON H. "Sawrnn,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the" borough of Bronx, county, city a'nd State of New York, have'in'vented certain new and useful Improvements in Spar Mills, set forth in the annexed specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for shaf in andfinishin lon onderous arti- O b v cl'es such as masts, spars and columns.

' The object of the invention is to make 1,

possible, with the greatest convenience and "ease, the shaping and finishing of such an article through the medium of 'mechanlcal ower. 7 a V Such articles as masts and, spars are shaped outofa natural log or tree trunk and it has been found that turning, in which the cut istransver'se to the grain, is not nearly 'so satisfactory as shaping by draw-cutting in the direction of the grain. In carrying out the general object of this. invention it is preferred to shape and finish the work with a rotary 'cutting tool capable of making substantially a draw-cut. A further objeotof the inventionis toprovide eflic-ient and effectively operable means for .automatically imparting any desired taper or such as a column or mast to the end that their entire bodycor any portion thereof may begivena polygonal cross-section or a crosssection of any combination of surfaces of revolution and flat surfaces, f

' Suchapparatus mayv best be termed a spar mill and it is generally the objective to provide a spar mill of great adaptability and convenience in shaplng; masts, spars and columns varying'greatly in size and shape.

The above will better be understood by reference to the illustrative embodiment, to whichthe claims are ,directed merely for purposes of illustration, and which ill-us trativ'e embodimentis described in the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in like characters designat'e corresponding. "parts in the several figures." V I I v I v I In the drawings, F ig'..' 1 is'a diagrammatic plan vlew showing apreferredlayout" for the mill; 1 I

Fig. 2'is a diagrammatic elevation;drawn r to an enlarged scale and with parts broken away, of alayoutof the mill I Fig. .3 is a sectionia longjthe plane of III-III of Fig. 2, showing the tool truck in elevation with parts brokenaway;

. F 1g. 4: 1s a'sectlonal elevation through the center plane of. the structure of Fig; 2 but withflparts shown in vertical cross-section' th ough the tool carriage;

Fig.5 is a side elevation ofa" driving-ring chuck viewed from the plane of line V"V, in*'I ig.2;" Q"

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section through the plane of line VI-- -VI of Fig. 5; I I Fig. 7v is'a detail side elevation the coupling for the removable section'- of the cradle-stock; and

8 is an enlarged section .through'the plane of line VIII-, VIII of Fig. 7 but with parts broken away. i

The trackway' A comprises "preferably three parallel straight tracksl 2 and? snitably laid, as on ties 4 in the usualmanner in which tra-ck rails are" laid. This track form's what is usually known a the bed Adjustably mounted on thistTack way are a plurality ofstocks which maybe termed cradle-stocks and which provide for the mounting androtationof the workpiece upona fixedfanis above and parallel to the said vtracl zway". "It. is preferred that these stocks B comprise two'end interchangeable 1' head and tail stocks 5 "and 6 and :one or more intermediate ring chuck stocks ,7 although it is to be understood.thatallof the i stocks may be ring chuckstocks like'jT, only 11e, or. all of which are power-driven, as

l and2, along which the stocksare indivlduallyadjustably movable toaccommedate desired. of'thesestocks hassupport; 'ing-feet- 8 w and 9. "clampable' by' iclamps 10 to the 'tr'ackw ay A,- preferably to the'trac ks varions lengths" of workpieces and various desired "positions. particularly for "the intermediate-ring chuck stocks; ,Usually 'onejce tral nag-cheek stock is suflicientiandfor heavy work the power rotation oftlie work'- piece is through the mediumof enseman ring-chuck stock? asuitab1y "constructed ,110

cast-metal frame 11 has an ope'nable section 12 mounted on the hinge 13 to swing ,up as'indicated in dash lines in Fig.

through the medium of a tackle 14;, secured to'the eye-bolt 15. This frame provides a circular guideway through the medium of theguide. flanges 16 and 17, the faces of which are finished to guide the mating faces of the cast iron ring 18 with tracks therein. The ring 18 is peripherally provided witha circular rack 19 with which the driving pinion 2O journalled in the frame 11 meshes andwhich can be driven in any suitable manner as by the pulley 21. and belt 22.- The ring 18 is provided with equi-angularly spaced radially projecting adjustable headed bolts 23 adjustable to clamp spider pieces.

' 24't-o the workpiece which may be adjusted to hold the workpiece ina central axial po sition.

The hinged openable section-lf z may be releasably locked closed by the clamp-locks; In the construction ofthese locks the machine spindle 30 is suitably fastened in a half cylindrical cross-channel formed across the parting face of the end 31 of frame 11 in which it may be anchored in any suitable manner as by the bolt 32. The spindle 30 extends out on each side face of the frame 11 symmetrically and on the oppositesides of said .frame symmetrical cups and split rings are provided. One portion 33 of the taper split ring is fixed to the end 11 of able sections 12 of the frame and 37 of the ring may be pierced by suitable pins 39 to hold the two removable sections assembled so that when they are swung up as indicated .indash linesthey move as an entity. It is to be understood that the pins such as the pins 39 are not to be inserted when the chuck is in operation, as it is thennecessarythat the toothed rack 18 slide in the bearings 17 and'16, These pins are inserted'only when the openable section 12 is to be lifted up as shown in dotted'lines inFig. 5. Likewise if desired, afjamb-bolt 40 maybe provided, as indicated in Fig; 6, to fixthering-chuck 18 to the frame- 11 as when the workpieceis to beheld against rotation, as: when cutting flat face on a column. i

.A truck D of anysuitable construction but "preferably a 'T-shaped frame 44: is mounted.

upon double flanged wheels il and 42, 1-2 being driven on rail 3, and wheel 13 flanged or unii'a'ngedas desired although preferablycylindrical to track on rail 1. frame 1 1 carries an upright d5 mounting an electric motor-4C6 which is connected by belt 17 through pulley 18 to the worm 419 in mesh with worm wheel SO which maybe clutched or un-clutched to the shaft-pinion .51 bythe clutch 52,. hand-wheel. 53 being permanently drivingly fixed to the shaft of pinion 51 which meshes with gear 53 ;to drivetrack wheel 42 to effect propulsion of the truck The truck} D. The frame 14 provides horizontal guides 54- on which .is transversely movably mounted the base 55 oftoolecarriage The base 55 has an upwardly projecting cylindrical flange 56, which seats piston-like boss 7 57 of the toolecarriage which may be-raised or lowered byany suitable meclianisinsuch as the screw 58. .The boss 57 is castintegrally with thejournals 5 9 mounting-the toolv spindle 6O whichcarries a rotary cutter Gland is driven by the pulley 62 through belt .63- from the motor 6d, motor 64 is mounted on the flanged mounting- 65 carried by the cylindrical'boss 66 and with which adjustment may be made through any suitable means such as the screw 67, which is worked through the hand hole 68 by means of the wheel 69, so that the belt-63 may be tightened as desired. The adjustable parts may be locked in position in any 'suit able'manner as by set screws 70.. A guard. 71 toshield the cutter 61 is mountedonthe stem 72' V The tool-carriage hasbeen described as transversely movable relativelyto the truck 1 D through the medium of the. base 55 guided.

in the guideways To movo thecarriage i a weight 5 is attached to the free end ofthe tension cord 75 passing over pulley 77 which is journalledto thetruck D. The other end of the cord 76 is attached to a suitable boss 78 formed on the cari 'i as E so that the cord 7 and weight form tension means reactingbee tween the truck and the carriagetending to move the carriage to the rightas viewedlin Figs. 3 and 1. Journalled against axial movement in the. boss 79. which is dependent I;

from the base 55 is a feed-screw 80, squared at both ends for the reception ofan operat; ing handle. p internally threaded head 'of, a follower. 81

whichhas 'slide'bearing 82, fixable by. set 3 screws 83 .to the guide rod 841; which passes tliI'OHghSlldG' bearings 85 and'86 formed as upwardly projecting bosses from the truck framedt. The rod 84 may be fixed .t'o'the This feed-screw works in the truck frame by one or more set screws 87. i

A second slidebearing 88 isprovided for the follower 81 and works on they guide bar 89 secured to'the bosses 90 and91... .Depend ent from the follower81 is a guide block in when against the finished side face of the form, of anti-friction roller 92 adapted 1 i to .each cross tie 4:. By loosening the screws '96 the guide-rail may be forced to assume guide-rail 93 is fixed to adjustable brackets 94 each having a-slot 95' through which a lag-screw 96 adjustably clamps the bracket any desired configuration, which is fixed by tightening the screws, the wooden ra1l being sufficiently flexible and resilient for thispurpose. The tension means 7 Gywhen either the 9 set screws 87 or 83. are loosened serves to force the roller 92 against the side face of the guide-rail 93', so :that the'rotary-cutter 61 is guided against the workpiece 100 to' cut the same inthedesiredlongitudinal contour ortaper. The'rotary cutter 61'may be fed either towards or from the workpiece independently of the guide-rail 93 by turning the feed-screw 80 in the desired direction. Also, if desired,- the follower 81 may be'moved, away from the guide-rail 93 and be fixed relatively tothe truck by setting up the set screws 83 and87. In this position the-track 3 serves as the means for guidingthe carriage E as well as the truck D and the' feeding of the cutter61 may be effected solely manually through the feed-screw 80.

A trolley construction F of any approved form and of sufficient units to supply the necessary circuits is carried by the truck I) and cooperates with a 'set of trolley wires G which parallel the trackway A and supply energy for-the motors 4:6 and 6 1- which may be controlled independently by suitable controllers lOl'and 102. So far the truck D-has been described as it is shown in Fig. 1, It is preferred however that for each mill two trucks Dand D be provided bothrunn-ing on the same trackway A-and both fed by the same'trolley installation. Thetruck: D the exact symmetricalduplicate of the truck D, symmetry applying to the positioning of the respective partswhich individually are the same on one'truck as on another, for

examplefthe propulsion motor 16 of truck positioned as shown in Fig; "2 In the same way the truCkEDT-may carry itsrotary cutter 61 close up against thestock B when moving from right, to left that is against the right side of stock B as viewed in Fig. 2.

It is preferred, however, that the direction 'of rotation and the direction of the cutting faces of the rotary cutter 61 be exactly op posite from those of the cutter 61 and that the cutting travel bevfrom left to right for truck D and from right to left for truck D.

By this'arrangenient of two truck's, the cut ting stroke maybe" commenced from very' close to the driving grippers 24 and outwardly in both directions.

extend The head and tail stocks 5 and Gmayrbe of any usualconstruction suitable for heavy" work but preferably comprise a' chuck 110 in addition to a removable-center 111 .(either' alive or dead) Suitable circuit connections 11-2 are provided for the motors and it isto be understood that thegtrackway A may provide a return cirouitvor not according to the number oftrolley units F provided.

What is claimed and what'is desired tobc secured by'United States Letters Patent straight parallel tracks; two o'rmorework stocks formountlng a'rotatable work-piece.

each movably ffastened'to said trackway; a cutter-carriage mounting" a laterally; adj ustway, said carriage; having a longitudinal movement along said trackwayrelativelyto said work-piece; a guide-rail adjustably a spar in'ill in combination, an earth fable rotary cutter mountedto rotate-on an I axis transverse tothe length of'sai'd trackmounted along saidtraclnvay and presenting a laterally facing guide-face to control the lateral adjustment relatively tofsaid work-piece of said rotary cutter; and means operatively connected with saiclrotary cutter and adapted to' runalong said laterally facing guide-face automatically toadjust the lateral position of said rotary cutter relatively to said work-piece as said carriage travels along said trackway.

-2. 1n a'spar m llin C0111b11'lat101l,- a trackallelitrackmj two 'or' more work stocks for mounting a rotatable work piece each mov- 'ablyfaste ned tosaidtrackway'; a cutter carriage mounting a laterally adjiistablerotary" cutter and'mounted for 'longitudinalmovementalong said trackwa-yrelatively to said work piece; a cuttercarriage guide railadjustably mounted along said trackway and presenting a laterally facing guidet'ace to control the lateral adjustment ofvsaid'rotary 'cut-ter; and. adjusting/means operatively connectedwith said rotary cutter and adapted to run along said laterally facing guide face to adjust the lateral position of said-r0;-

tary cutter relatively" to said work pieceas said cutter carriage travels along said trackay-- r 55w. r m 3. In a spar' mill 1n combination, a

guide way at right angles to said trackway, v

having a lateral openable section, a ring chuck worklng in sald circular cguideway &

and having an openable' section whereby work may be rolled laterally into said ringchuck; means for rotating a work-gripping part of one of saidstocks; a cutting tool;

and means for carrying said cutting tool along'the work to be cut. l a. In a spar mill incombination, a tracl gles to said trackway, having a lateral open- T able section a ring-chuck working in said circular guideway itself having an openable section and being provided with a-circular rack and a driving pinion for said rack journalled in said cradle-frame; a cutting tool;

and a carriage-for carrying said cutting tool along the work to be cut.

5- In a spar mill; a cradle-chuck, said chuck'comprising a frame providing a'circular guideway and having a laterally hinged section means for holding said hinged section closed comprising a cup and split-ring construction, the portions oft-he split-ring being secured to the fixed and openable' portions of said frame respectively.

6. In a spar mill in combination, a straight trackway comprising parallel tracks; an adjustable guide rail extending along said trackway; a plurality of work stocks adjustably mounted on said trackway; a'truck movable on said trackway and held thereto against transverse movement; a tool carriage transversely movably carried by said truck and a follower secured to said carriage and engaging said guide-rail to control the transverse movement of said care riage as said truck moves along'saidtrackway. 3

7.1In a spar 'trackway comprising parallel tracks; an ad'- just-able guide rail. extending along said trackway; a. plurality ofwork stocks adjustably mounted on said trackway; a truck movable on said trackwayand guided thereon against transverse movement; a tool carriage transversely movably'mounted 011 said truck; a'follower for engaging said guide rail automatically to control thetransverse adjustment of said carriage as said truck moves along said trackway; and hand-ad'- justable connection between said follower and said carriage for making an adjustment of said follower, relatively'to said carriage.

mill in combination astraiglit 8. In a spar mill in'combination astraight trackway comprising parallel tracks; an adjustable guide ,railv extending-"along said trackway; aplurality of work stocks adjustably mounted on said .trackway; a truck movable on said trackway and guided there,- on against transverse movement; a tool cars riage transversely movably mounted on said truck; a follower for engaging said guide rail automatically to controlthe transverse adjustment of said carriage as said truck moves along' saidtrackway ya hand-adjustable connection between said follower and said carriage for making an adjustment of said follower relatively-to said carriage;

and means for rendering said hand-ad ust-' able connection operative independently, of said follower and guide rail for ad ustmg the transverse positioning of said tool carriage.

said truck and having a guide-block; an 7 adjustable guideraill mounted along said trackway; and tension means reactingfbetween said truck and said carriage tending V to force said. guide-block against said guiderail to guide said carriage transversely to said trackway.

10. In spar mill in combination, a trackway; rotary work stocli adjustably mounted f on. said t'rackway; a work-tool carrying truck running on said trackway; an electric motor on" said truck for driving-it along said t-rackway; and on'eor more trolley conductors paralleling said trackway for sup plying energy to said motor. i

11. In a spar mill in combination a" track way; a head and a tail stock spaced along said trackway; an intermediate ring-chuck mounted on said trackway, adapted to rotate the work-piece; two trucks'run ning'on said trackway and mounting each a propelling 'motor and a cutter-blade, said trucks being formed symmetrically with respect to said CLINTON ring-chuck having the cutting tool of each HQSAWYER. J i 

